http://www.jewishworldreview.com --
THE media snobs are at it again. Wrinkling their noses at flag pins and
patriotic ribbons. Tiptoeing around the word "terrorist." Preening
about their precious "objectivity," "neutrality," and "independence."

Hey, newsies: Get off your high horses. Impartiality is no excuse to
behave like four-star ingrates.

Stacey Woelfel, news director at KOMU-TV in Columbia, Mo., directed his
staff to "leave the ribbons at home" in order to show viewers "that in
no way are we influenced by the government in informing the public." ABC

News spokesman Jeffrey Schneider told the Washington Post: "Especially
in a time of national crisis, the most patriotic thing journalists can
do is to remain as objective as possible.(W)e cannot signal how we feel
about a cause, even a justified and just cause, through some sort of
outward symbol."

Reuters infamously refuses to describe the perpetrators of the terrorist
attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon as terrorists. And
the headline above Seattle Times executive editor Mike Fancher's column
last weekend pronounced loftily: "We serve public best by clothing
ourselves in neutrality, not pins."

These TV news directors and newspaper editors act like they're lethally
allergic to red, white, and blue. Do they plan on boycotting the Fourth
of July, too? Wouldn't want to give the appearance of endorsing either
side of that little armed struggle between Mother England and the rebel
colonies, right?

Seriously, the hypocrisy is nauseating. "Ethical" news editors wave the
high-minded banner of objectivity in wartime. But in peacetime, they
don't think twice about allowing - even encouraging -- their reporters
to participate in such highly politicized activities as AIDS
fund-raisers, race-based affirmative action lobbying efforts, anti-gun
proselytizing, pro-abortion rallies, and environmental propaganda.

The media backlash against public displays of patriotism reveals a lot
about modern American journalism's true colors. Many of today's leading
purveyors of journalism are simply embarrassed to identify with the
average citizen. They view flag-waving as a maudlin exercise; gun
ownership as fanatical; national pride as politically incorrect
arrogance; and the U.S. military as an outdated, hierarchical, racist,
sexist, homophobic, and imperialistic institution.

Well, it's those brave men and women in uniform who risk their lives
everyday so we can sit back and gaze at our navels. It's those intrepid
soldiers who will leave their families, their security, and their way of
life behind to defend all of ours. What's wrong with showing a small
token of solidarity and appreciation?

This country's greatest wartime correspondent, World War II newsman
Ernie Pyle, embodied the spirit of journalist as compatriot. He didn't
wear a tiny pin. He wore a uniform -- an Army private's uniform. Pyle
went through basic training and braved the front lines in Britain, North
Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, and Japan (where he was killed on the
battlefield by a sniper's bullet to his head). Pyle's respect and
gratitude for American soldiers was unabashed.

"I love the infantry because they are the underdogs," he wrote. "They
are the mud-rain-frost-and-wind boys. They have no comforts, and they
even learn to live without the necessities. And in the end they are the
guys that wars can't be won without." Pyle wasn't ashamed to share his
emotions, to call the enemy the enemy, and to show allegiance to our
country. Instead of preaching from the ivory tower about the media's
hallowed role in society, he always showed professional humility.

"You feel small in the presence of dead men, and ashamed at being alive,
and you don't ask silly questions," Pyle wrote in his award-winning
column, "The Death of Captain Waskow." He referred to American troops
with a collective "we." And he lobbied successfully in his column for
extra fight pay for combat soldiers.

The writing that earned Ernie Pyle a Pulitzer Prize in 1944 would have
gotten him fired today. There will be no 21st century Ernie Pyles in
our war on terrorism because modern journalists wouldn't be caught dead
in a foxhole, wearing a military uniform, bravely recording and
communicating the hopes, fears, dreams, anger, and pride of the American
soldier.